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ChipMusic.org / Forums / Posts by Shiru
ATMega can't run code from RAM, only from built-in Flash memory, so any AVR-based computer is rather limited, you can only use preprogrammed code or use some interpreter for loadable programs (which is slow, and best perfomance with native code is ~20MIPS). With native code one ATMega has enough resources to emulate AY-3-8910, or SID (with limitations), or play 4-channel MODs.
And I don't think there is any sound hardware. So it is may be easier to design own system than hack this.
My friend Gibson pointed me to funny similarity between certain parts of the music in Duck Tales and Shatterhand (or Solbrain). Listen this. I honestly don't think it is borrowed, and the music composed by different people, so maybe it is just some locally famous lick or something, but anyway, it is fun to hear similarity in two NES games which were released in 1989 and 1991, and which has rather different styles of the music.
Check help file, 'Starter guide' section.
Seems it uses SN76477 as sound synth, which is rather cool (it is 1-channel digitally controlled analog synth).
Regarding seamless looping, these 2 lines of code will not work in all the cases (only works when you encoded WAV to MP3 using CS). Be sure, I know what I'm talking about.
It should be noted that Flash has a lot of serious problems even today. Lack of support for hardware acceleration, low accuracy of all the timers (and even worse, different accuracy for different browsers), different speed depending from the browser and how it is embedded (up to 50% slowdown in some situations!), rather underdeveloped sound capabilites (good luck with seamless loop of MP3; peak CPU overhead at start of every sound) - it just a few that come in mind first. Well, alternatives nowhere near by popularity, and has their own problems too.
There is no BPM in Phaser1. The speed setting is really rough, it is one of major limitations of the engine. You have to live with it, as you have to with a lot of limitations of the chip music in general. There are no tables as well, and no trackers with the tables.
You should understand that there was no actual 1-bit trackers for ZX before 2009, and besides the ZX I know only two for other platform, PC - they are even more limited than ANY ZX 1-bit tracker.
If you want to make 1-bit music without hard limitations, there are at least two VSTi for this (actual synths, not downsamplers).
Another one, well known but not mentioned yet: Dune - Battle for Arrakis. I recall I used to record the music to compact cassete back then, as well as to hate it (after hundreds of hours of playing).
The message you've seen is from Gluk utility. It is actually a good thing, all you need is to use TR-DOS version of the Phaser1. Press F3 to attach TRD/SCL file to the emulated disk drive, then press Enter twice (in the Gluk) - first press will show list of executable files on the disk (Gluk boot item), second will run the file (should be name of the editor).
There are growing alternatives - MS Silverlight, Java FX, and HTML5 (which Steve Jobs promotes). They aren't anywhere near Flash by popularity, and this will take many years to replace the Flash.
You can develop Flash apps without paying for the Adobe's app - there are few free compilers and IDE's. However, they aren't include a graphics/vector editor, so it not going to be easy way. You should understand that you will need to write a lot of code these days to make a nice Flash game.
Vortex is a cross-tracker for AY-3-8910, which has nothing to do with 1-bit music. There is a Windows cross-tracker with Phaser1 engine, though - Beepola. However, this not solve the problem, because every emulator and Beepola's emulation has some difference in how the output is filtered, and there is no 'right' one. So you'd better to check a few good emulators and choose one which sound you'll like. Difference in the sound is ranges from noisy sound with some high frequency carrier in background (SPIN) to rather clean (Unreal Speccy).
How could I forget, Jurassic Park 2 has great music.
Regarding SMS sound, I don't like it too much because two reasons: it has low amount bass (lowest possible note is ~A1), and limited number of possible waveforms (max two, most of the games used only one). There were some games with nice sounding music, though, for example Alien 3 or Flash.
I've liked a lot of music from Sega Mega Drive games, strong enough to turn the console on just to listen the music. This is a list of that I've recalled (excluding already listed in the thread), but I'm sure I've forgot something.
Adventures of Batman and Robin
Aero Blasters
Batman
Battle Mania - Dai Gin Jou (Trouble Shooter 2)
Battletoads
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Capt'n Havoc (High Seas Havoc)
Comix Zone
Contra: Hard Corps
F-15 Strike Eagle II (title song)
Fantastic Dizzy
Fire Shark
Gley Lancer
Lawnmower Man (title song)
Lethal Enforcers
Lethal Enforcers 2 - Gun Fighter
Mega Turrican
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
Midnight Resistance
MUSHA Aleste
OutRun 2019
Red Zone
Ristar
Rocket Knight Adventures
Shinobi 3
Side Pocket
Sol-Deace
Stargate (title music)
Subterrania
Sunset Riders
Thunder Force 3
Thunder Force 4
Valis - The Fantasm Soldier
Vectorman
You haven't lived until you've heard this song from the game "Baby T-Rex".
Oh yeah, great side of the SNES was that a few games had short and simple, but actual songs or a cappella. It was so cool.
Clay Fighter
Tales of Phantasia - this one is simply great
Earthworm Jim 2
Killer Instinct
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - this one is still catchy as hell
My favorites, except for some already listed:
Battletoads and Double Dragons
Battletoads in Battlemaniacs
Super Castlevania 4
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2
Dracula X
Killer Instinct
Ninja Warriors Again
Super Turrican
Wild Guns
The list is not full, it is what I've just remembered exactly. There should be a lot more.
ChipMusic.org / Forums / Posts by Shiru